10 Most Humiliating Wrestling Moves

4. Samoa Joe's Nope Spot

Orange Cassidy Luchasaurus
AEW

Art should make sense in whichever context it operates, which is why something like the worst hack excesses of Bray Wyatt's shtick always fail.

It is too nonsensical for a wrestler to hold supernatural powers in a universe that otherwise operates on our plane, particularly when the rest of the cast basically ignores the fact that their understanding of the material world has been disrupted.

The rules needn't be entirely rigid; if they're slightly elastic, this winking meta approach can work on a sly, amusing level.

This brings us to Samoa Joe's incredible, disrespectful "nope" spot, in which he answers the question every single non-fan asks of the form: why don't they just...move out of the way?

Joe moves out of the way, embarrassing his opponents in the process as they take a slapstick bump elevated into black comedy by the pain that shocks their system. It works because Joe is such a cool presence that nobody begrudges him for revealing the plot hole, and he knows his job is to actually bump for an aerial deeper into the match and restore the "logic" that, while barely there, is crucial in enabling suspension of disbelief.

 
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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!